You know how sunshine can bounce off glass windows into our eyes? Well, a skyscraper in London, England reflects light so strong and hot that it melts things. Car doors and mirrors have melted, store carpets have caught on fire, and even stone steps have cracked in the heat. It’s because the side of the building is curved, so the windows bounce all the sunlight into one small point (like when you see yourself upside down in a spoon). When you build a building, you’d better do the math first!
Wee ones: The walls of your room are probably straight. How many straight walls can you count around you?
Little kids: If the building melts 2 car doors, 2 tires, 2 side mirrors and a candy bar, how many items did it melt? Bonus: If you park your car at 11:00 and it starts melting an hour later, at what time is that?
Big kids: If it takes 42 minutes for the danger spot to start melting your car, and you parked half that amount of time ago, how many minutes until your car starts melting? Bonus: If a new car parks in the danger spot every 1/2 hour, how many cars are in danger in 12 hours of sunshine?
Answers:
Wee ones: Most rooms have 4 straight walls, but you might have more than that – or a curved one!
Little kids: 7 melted things. Bonus: At 12:00 noon.
Big kids: 21 minutes. Bonus: 24 cars.
